Phytotherapy of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (Guest editorial )H.J.D.Med.4(1)2012

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is primarily a vascular diseasecharacterized by insufficient blood flow, edema and heavy legs. It is a resultof age, lifestyle and obesity. As functional valves are required to provide forefficient blood return from the lower extremities, CVI often occurs in veins ofthe legs. Itching is a common symptom, along with hyper pigmentation of legs.Symptoms also include phlebetic lymphoedema and chronic swelling of legs. Thereis also increased risk of ulcers and cellulites.The description of varicose veins as a clinical entity can be traced backas early as the fifth century B.C. The ancient physicians Hippocrates and Galendescribed the disease and treatment modalities, which are still used today. It was Hippocrates whorecommended bandaging to treat it.